Search location by ZIP code

NEWS ARCHIVE

Lack of workers troubling for builders

The economic rebound is sparking a new wave of construction but as orders for homebuilders fill up in Omaha, there’s a new, challenging trend.

Share

Shares

Copy Link

{copyShortcut} to copy
Link copied!

Updated: 10:19 PM CDT Aug 18, 2013

Lack of workers troubling for builders

The economic rebound is sparking a new wave of construction but as orders for homebuilders fill up in Omaha, there’s a new, challenging trend.

Share

Shares

Copy Link

{copyShortcut} to copy
Link copied!

Updated: 10:19 PM CDT Aug 18, 2013

Hide TranscriptShow Transcript

WEBVTT MORE NEWS IN THE METRO.. THE ECONOMIC REBOUND IS SPARKING A NEW WAVE OF CONSTRUCTION. BUT AS ORDERS FILL UP.. THERE'S A NEW CHALLENGING TREND .. LOCAL BUILDERS TELL US THEY'RE HAVING A HARD TIME FINDING WORKERS. KETV NW7'S HANNAH PICKETT HAS THIS STORY- ALL NEW AT TEN. ACROSS THE METRO ..NEW HOMES ARE GOING UP -- MANY OF THEM HERE IN WEST OMAHA( NATS: construction ) BUT WITHIN THIS BUILDING BOOM..THERE'S A NEW TREND WE'VE NAILED DOWN -- ONE THAT'S AFFECTING CONSTRUCTION SITES LIKE THESE..ALL OVER TOWN( Nick Dolphens / Homebuilder: " There's a labor shortage. We ARE noticing it. " ) HOMEBUILDERS TELL US THEY'RE HAVING A HARD TIME FINDING WORKERS WE'RE TOLD..NO COMPANY SEEMS TO BE IMMUNE TO THE PROBLEM( Nick Dolphens: " I think it affects everyone. I talk about it with people every day. " ) IN SOME CASES..IT'S A MATTER OF ATTRACTING EMPLOYEES TO DO THINGS LIKE FRAMING AND ROOFING WORK; IN OTHERS, IT'S A CHALLENGE TO RETAIN PEOPLE ONCE THEY'RE ON THE JOB( Nick Dolphens: " Not everybody in the world wants to do it -- or, they try it and they don't like it. " ) INDUSTRY GROUPS -- LIKE THE METROPOLITAN OMAHA BUILDERS ASSOCIATION, OR 'MOBA' -- SAY THEY'RE TRACKING THE SITUATION CLOSELY..ALONGSIDE THEIR MEMBERS( Cassi Petersen / Metropolitan Omaha Builders Association: " When you're short framers or HVAC or any other subcontractors, you want to be aware of that. " ) MOBA OFFICIALS TELL US IN SOME CASES, BUILDERS HAVE TO GET CREATIVE( Petersen: " -- lot of builders are sharing framing crews " ) PLUS..THEY'RE TAKING STEPS TO KEEP CUSTOMERS SATISFIED..AS THE ORDER BOOKS GET FILLED UP AMID THE HOUSING BOOM( Petersen: " The builders are conscious of the timelines they're giving when meeting with buyers. " ) OFFICIALS SAY PART OF THE LABOR SHORTAGE STEMS FROM THE FACT THAT FEWER YOUNG PEOPLE ARE GOING INTO THE TRADES NOWADAYS--AND THAT THERE ARE FEWER VOCATIONAL TRAINING EFFORTS, TOO( Petersen: " I think a lot of people are simply geared to go to university. " ) IN OMAHA...KETV 7 DESPITE THE CHALLENGES OF FINDING LABOR.. BUILDERS ARE STILL SEEING NEW ORDERS. ONE BUILDER TOLD US THEIR BACKLOG..GOES INTO NEXT SPRING!

Lack of workers troubling for builders

The economic rebound is sparking a new wave of construction but as orders for homebuilders fill up in Omaha, there’s a new, challenging trend.